Indicator card for type fonts



April 15, 1930. T. CROSBY INDICATOR CARD FOR TYPE FONTS Filed Se t. 10. 1928 v V INVENTOR Thomas Urosby BY 1 2 /6 m v I F 2 2 3 m m? 1 1. 2 9 :2 23 m 5 E 3 8 1 N 4. 2 2 j m 2 225 we I ATIORNE Patented Apr. 15, 193i) UNETED STATES THOMAS CROSBY OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT INDICATOR CARD FOR TYPE FONTS Application filed September 10, 1928. Serial No. 305,033.

This invention relates to type setting apparatus, and more particularly to a set of indicator cards to be placed in the compartments of a type font box for facilitating the assembly of matrices in the printing line in the composing stick such as is used in the so-called Ludlow process.

One object of this invention is to provide a set of indicator cards of the above nature,

each of which cards has a visible number at one end to inform the operator the exact width of the matrix contained in the compartment.

With this and other objects in view there has been illustrated on the accompanying drawings one form in which the invention may be conveniently embodied in practice.

Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of a font box in which the indicator cards have been installed.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a composing stick partially filled "with matrices and spacers, the use of which is facilitated by the present invention.

Fig. 3 shows perspective views respectively of a matrix and a spacer quad.

4 is a view showing the compartment cards for three different characters of a font.

In making up printing type for advertising matter etc. for use in the Ludlow process, some of the matrices of a font often become exhausted before the composing stick has been filled. It is customary in such a case a to complete one-half of the line first, and to fill up the spaces of the exhausted characters in the second half of the line with. spacing quads or matrices having the same width as the exhausted characters. The width of the entire line will thus be correct.

After the first half of the line has been cast, the composing stick will be removed from the Ludlow casting machine and the exhausted matrices in the second half of the line replaced by correct characters taken from the first half, it being unnecessary to utilize the font box for this purpose.

According to the methods now in common use, in making up the printing line as above described, it is necessary for the operator to actually measure with a scale the width in points or pioas of an exhausted character in order to determine the size of a filling quad or spacer to be put in its place.

By means of the present invention the above and other disadvantages have been avoided and the operation of typesetting greatly facilitated by the use of a set of cards, one of which is placed in the bottom of each character compartment of a font box. Visible numbers printed on said cards indicate to the operator the exact width of the matrices in the respective compartments enabling the operator to rapidly select a character or spacer of the right width to fill in the space of the exhausted character.

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 indicates a font box or drawer having a plurality of compartments 11 constituting receptacles for the different characters of the font. The compartments 11 are adapted to receive matrices 12 and spacers 13 (shown in Fig. 3) which are adapted to be assembled and clamped in a composing stick 14: and placed in a Ludlow type casting machine in the usual manner.

In order to adjustably clamp the matrices 12 and spacers 18 together in the composing stick 1%, provision is made of a thumb screw 89 15 swiveled in the end bar of the stick 14 and screwed into the threaded interior of an end quad 16.

The cards to be placed in the bottom of the V compartments 11, as shown most clearly in Fig. 4, are indicated by the numerals 17 18 and 19, each of said cards having at one end a number (20, 21 and'22) representing the width of the character in points. The style of character is described by suitable indicia 23, 24, and 25 (Fig. l) printed vertically in the center of the card, said central position preventing the descriptive indicia 23, 2 1, and 25 from being injured or worn out by the matrices, which have their central portions cut away at 26 to provide feet 27 straddling the printed indicia 23, 24, and 25.

While there has been disclosed in this specification one form in which the invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that this form is shown for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention is not to be limited to the specific disclosure but may be modified and embodied in various other forms Without departing from its spirit. In short, the invention includes all the modifications and embodiments coming within the scope of the following claim.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new, and for which it is desired to secure Letters Patent, is:

In a device of the character described, a set of indicating cards corresponding in size and shape to fit in the' bottoms of the comartments of a font case, each of said cards ving a number at one end to indicate the Width of the matrix contained in its compartment, said number being visible from above, and centralized ind-icia adapted to be straddled by the feet of the matrix describin the character of the matrix.

testimony whereof, I have afiixed my signature to this specification.

THOMAS CROSBY. 

